surprisingly, i didn’t like this book at all. i really enjoyed emily barr’s one memory of flora banks, but was let down by the truth and lies of ella black.

one of my biggest issues with the truth and lies of ella black is the use of mental illness to do “bad” things. page 12 is the first time this happens and is one of the worst. the “bad version” of ella (called bella) kills a bird with a hammer. later on, bella is used as an excuse for shitty behaviour towards her family.

throughout the whole book, only one thing kept me from putting it down: why had ella’s parents pulled her from her life and taken her to south america? this was answered about half way through, at which point i lost all interest. not to mention, the reason was really unsatisfying. something better could’ve happened. maybe some bad guys were after them? idk but anything is better than what actually happened.

from this point on, it’s one shitty event after another. ella gets even more annoying and nothing she does really makes any sense. it’s like the author decided to write a book about some things but didn’t actually research or talk to individuals in a similar situation.

all in all, i wouldn’t recommend this book. it’s the kind of book you’d expect to see on wattpad or some other site (not to imply that wattpad stories are bad or anything – i read quite a few tbh).